*1 dies, 3 injured as explosion rocks Lagos gas station (Punch)
A yet-to-be-identified person has reportedly died while three sustained varying degrees of injuries following a gas explosion that happened at Julee Gas Station, along Iyana School, Isashi Road, Iba, in Lagos.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.
Confirming the incident to our correspondent, the Head, Public Education, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Amodu Shakiru, revealed that the cause of the fire incident was due to the process of trans-loading gas from the truck into the plant’s surface tank. Read more
Court orders FG to fix prices of goods, petroleum products within 7 days (Guardian)
A Federal High Court, sitting at Ikoyi, Lagos has given the federal government seven days to fix the prices of goods and petroleum products.
Justice Ambose Lewis-Allagoa granted the order on Wednesday, 7 February, 2024 following an originating motion filed and argued by the applicant and human rights activist, Femi Falana SAN.
“I have had the applicant Femi Falana in a suit no San, FHC/L/CS/869/2023 and I have also discovered that despite the service of the Originating motion on the respondents namely Attorney-General of the Federation and the Price Control Board, no opposition to it by way of counter affidavit, which is law that all the facts deposed in the affidavit attached to the originating motion are all deemed admitted.
“Consequently, all prayers that are sought for in the motion papers are hereby granted as prayed.” Read more
Forex crisis: EFCC 7,000-man task force goes after dollar racketeers (Punch)
In a move to reduce the pressure on the naira, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has raised a 7,000-man special task force across its 14 zonal commands to clamp down on dollar racketeers.
The spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said the commission had summoned the proprietors of private universities and other schools charging tuition in dollars.
The naira has been on a free fall against the dollar in the past weeks with the currency losing value against the greenback. Read more
Ogun ready for reconstruction of Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway – Commissioner (Nation)
The Ogun State Government said it has concluded arrangements to mobilise contractors to the site for the reconstruction of the Abeokuta-Ota-Lagos Expressway.
The government said it has selected a reputable contractor for the reconstruction of the road, out of the three that bidded for the job, while waiting for a formal Extract, communicating the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The reconstruction of the 70 km road will cover the stretch from Abeokuta to Abule Egba in Lagos State. Read more
Ibadan Explosion: 3 identified suspects to be prosecuted, Makinde receives report (Channels)
The Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has received the official report of the January 16, 2024 explosion at Adeyi Avenue, Bodija, Ibadan.
The report, which comprises findings of the Medical, Security and Engineering Teams, was submitted to the governor on Tuesday, at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Addressing a press conference at the Briefing Room of the Governor’s Office shortly after the presentation of the report, the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, COMPOL Fatai Owoseni (rtd), said that three persons of interest have been identified in connection with the cause of the unfortunate incident. Read more
2024 census will hold as scheduled, Senate assures Nigerians (Vanguard)
The Senate has assured that the much-awaited population and housing census slated for November this year will hold as scheduled.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja during the screening of 17 of the 19 commissioner-nominees for the National Population Commission, NPC, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), noted that coincidentally, most of the nominees are people coming for the second time.
He said: “It is a renomination and we have perused their credentials presented in the first instance, compared to the ones they. have just presented.” Read more
Abducted wife of murdered Kwara chief, daughter rescued (DailyTrust)
The abducted wife of the murdered Olukoro of Koro in Ekiti LGA of Kwara State, Olori Iyabo Aremu, and her adopted daughter, Feranmi, have been rescued.
City & Crime gathered that the captives were released on Monday night and arrived in Koro town around 11pm.
A team of security operatives reportedly stormed the kidnappers’ den inside a forest to free the captives.
The development came on the heels of a negotiated N40m ransom demanded by the gunmen from the initial N100m after the abduction. Read more
Gina Carano files lawsuit with Elon Musk’s help against Disney and Lucasfilm over The Mandalorian firing (ET)
Gina Carano has filed a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm over her firing from The Mandalorian, and she’s being backed by X CEO Elon Musk.
According to court documents obtained by ET, Carano claims she was targeted, harassed, publicly humiliated, defamed and ultimately fired from her role in the Star Wars TV series because she made political statements on X that “did not align with what they believed was an acceptable viewpoint.”
Carano went on to claim that she was discriminated against because Disney and Lucasfilm targeted her differently from her male co-stars “who also made public, political statements on social media.” She claims those male co-stars were “not disciplined, let alone terminated.” Carano, who played Cara Dune, was fired in February 2021. She was later dropped by her talent agency, UTA. Read more
Will Smith praises daughter Willow for being 1st in family to hit this major milestone (HipHopDX)
Will Smith is celebrating his daughter Willow Smith after she became the first in their musical family to hit one billion streams.
Taking to Instagram with a screenshot of the numbers for Willow’s song “…Wait a Minute!” on Wednesday (February 7), Will wrote, “@willowsmith is the first person in the family to have a song with a BILLION streams!!”
The track was released in 2015 as the second single off her debut album, Ardipithecus. Read more
Gary Glitter refused prison release by Parole Board (BelfastTelegraph)
Lawyers for one of Gary Glitter’s victims said they are “glad” the Parole Board has “done the right thing” in rejecting his bid to be freed from jail.
The decision was published on Wednesday after the disgraced paedophile pop star, now 79, made a plea to be released at a behind closed doors parole hearing last month.
Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was jailed for 16 years in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980. Read more
Mojo Nixon, ‘‘Elvis Is Everywhere’’ singer, dies while on country music Cruise (Variety)
Mojo Nixon, the alternative musician, actor and DJ, known for the 1987 novelty hit “Elvis Is Everywhere” has died. He was 66.
Nixon, whose real name is Neill Kirby McMillan Jr was found dead today onboard the annual Outlaw Country Cruise, where he was a regular presence both as a performer and co-host. He had performed just the night before — the photo above is from that performance.
The cause was a cardiac event, according to his family. Read more
Paul Giamatti says Cher keeps trying to talk to him, but he doesn’t know why (EW)
Most celebrities have to deal with unsolicited fan communications every now and then. But it’s rare that the fan in question is Cher.
During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show on Wednesday, Paul Giamatti was asked about playing a bizarre game of phone tag with the Goddess of Pop. “There’s this thing around you that Cher is a huge fan of yours and she wants to speak to you and speak with you,” host Howard Stern said.
The Golden Globe-winning Holdovers star confirmed his odd dynamic with the “Believe” singer. “Every now and then I get a message from somebody that says Cher — not just [that she wants to talk to me] — she really needs to talk to me, like it’s important, like it’s crucial that she talks to me,” Giamatti said, laughing. “And I’m like, ‘What the f—? Why does Cher want to talk to me?’ Nobody will tell me, and then I never hear anything. And then a year will go by and it happens again.” Read more
US drone strike kills Iran-backed militia leader in Baghdad (BBC)
A senior commander of an Iran-backed militia has been killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad.
A leader of Kataib Hezbollah and two of his guards were in a vehicle when it was targeted in the east of the Iraqi capital. All three of them died.
The Pentagon said the commander was responsible for directing attacks on American forces in the region.
The US has linked the militia to a drone attack in Jordan that killed three US troops last month. Read more
Journalists criticise Tucker Carlson over Putin interview (VOA)
Former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlon’s announcement on Tuesday that he interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin has been met with disapproval from an array of journalists, some of whom say the Kremlin may use the interview for propaganda purposes.
In a video posted on the social media platform X, Carlson said he wanted to interview the longtime Russian leader because “Americans have a right to know all they can about a war they are implicated in.”
In mid-March, Russia is set to hold presidential elections, which Putin is all but guaranteed to win. Putin likely agreed to the interview with Carlson because he thinks it will help his campaign, according to Mikhail Rubin, deputy editor-in-chief of the Russian investigative outlet Proekt Media. Read more
Plaudits for Nwabali after shootout heroics (Punch)
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali earned the praises of Nigerians again at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast after helping Nigeria reach the final of the tournament on Wednesday, for the first time since 2013.
Nwabali saved two penalties during the shootout on a long night at the Stade de la Paix in Bouke, as Nigeria beat South Africa 4-2 on penalties to power their hopes of winning a fourth AFCON title after successes in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Although he was beaten from the spot by Teboho Mokoena during regulation time, the 27-year-old put up a commanding performance with spectacular saves during the game, which earned him the Man of The Match award as well. Read more
Shettima celebrates with Super Eagles after AFCON semi-final victory (Channels)
Vice President Kashim Shettima has celebrated with the Super Eagles after victory over South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 semi-final in Cote d’Ivoire.
The match finished 1-1 after extra time and the three-time champions will face hosts Ivory Coast or the Democratic Republic of Congo, who meet later, in the final on Sunday.
Both regular-time goals also came from penalties with captain William Troost-Ekong scoring after 67 minutes for Nigeria and Teboho Mokoena equalised from a 90th-minute spot-kick. Read more
De Rossi’s revitalised Roma face first test against Inter (France24)
Daniele De Rossi faces the first true test of his new Roma regime on Saturday as rampant Inter Milan come to town looking to defend their four-point Serie A lead.
Former Italy midfielder and Roma icon De Rossi has had a perfect start since taking charge of his boyhood team last month.
Three wins from three have calmed some of the fan anger at Jose Mourinho being sacked and have put Roma firmly back in the mix for Champions League football. Read more
Coupe de France: Kylian Mbappe shines as PSG edge past Brest while Real Madrid rumors continue (CBS)
Kylian Mbappe is not far from the headlines at present but it did not show on Wednesday night as Paris Saint-Germain edged out the 10 men of Stade Brestois 29 with a 3-1 win at Parc des Princes to advance to the Coupe de France quarterfinals. A Ligue 1 matchup less than two weeks ago which the France international did not score in, he opened the scoring in clinical fashion after 34 minutes to settle the home side’s nerves after Eric Roy’s impressive Pirates had threatened Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal.
Mbappe’s finish was clinical as he continued his incredible scoring record of 50 goals from just 28 Coupe de France outings with 15 more assists on top of that but he made it look so easy at a time when the entire soccer world is waiting on his every move. Despite a recent wave of rumors suggesting that a free agent transfer to Real Madrid this summer is close, the 25-year-old is doing his best to keep his cards close to his chest and doing that the way he knows best — by scoring more and more goals. Read more
Emma Raducanu suffers fresh injury scare as she loses against Ons Jabeur (Tennis365)
Emma Raducanu turned in another encouraging performance as she lost against Ons Jabeur at the Abu Dhabi Open, but there was a worrying injury scare for the Brit in a high-quality match.
Two-time Wimbledon finalist Jabeur hit a stunning 35 winners in a powerful performance that was too much for Raducanu to handle.
Yet the 21-year-old Brit should be encouraged by her success of staying with Jabeur, who was serving big throughout and hitting some wonderous winners. Read more
Emirati teenager Rashid Al Dhaheri stays on track in pursuit of Formula One dream (National)
Rashid Al Dhaheri is gearing up to take the next step in his dream of flying the UAE flag high in the world of motorsports.
The Emirati, 15, whose love for racing began as a three-year-old when he attended the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, soon got behind the steering wheel of a go-kart. And since then, he has steadily climbed his way up the ladder, with the ultimate aim to one day line up on the grid of Formula One.
For now though, Al Dhaheri, is making the most of his time in the Formula 4 circuit, savouring the experience he gained as a rookie last year in the Italian and Euro Championships. Read more